Before traveling to the Galapagos, you should understand the dynamics between each of the Islands. Optimize the days and money you have to the max so that you can fully enjoy your trip to the Galapagos.

Tips for traveling to Galapagos

Tips for traveling in Galapagos

I recommend that you bring 20, 10, 5, 1 dollar bills. Most establishment do not accept 100 or 50 dollar bills. Ecuador’s currency is the US Dollar, so all cashiers will give you dollars.

1) CREDIT CARDS

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This is an important Galapagos travel tip! On some islands, there is a network of scammers who are committing credit card fraud. It is still unknown exactly how they operate, but while the passengers are enjoying a daily tour, their credit cards are used to make unauthorized transactions and the passengers do not find out until they get back to their home countries. Hotels tend to blame tour agencies and vice versa.

Here are some travel tips to avoid falling victim to this scam:

Land iguana from Santiago Island in Galapagos

Santiago Island Land Iguana

2) PRICE OF FLIGHTS

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If you’re neither Ecuadorian nor a resident of Ecuador, the price of your plane tickets will increase by approximately $150. However, Ecuadorians who aren’t residents of the Galapagos only pay around $190-$280 (total) for a flight. Look for offers with airlines LATAM or AVIANCA .

Giant sea turtles are in Isabela

Giant sea turtles in Isabela

3) ENTER TO GALAPAGOS

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Here’s a walkthrough Galapagos travel tip: Before checking in with your airline (on-line is not possible), look for the Galapagos immigration offices at the airport in Guayaquil or Quito. At the office you will see two lines. In the first line, you can check your bags and the second line takes you to a migration window where you can buy the transit control card that costs USD 20. The value of the card is the same for all Ecuadorians or foreigners, even if they are minors. After this, you can check in at the airline.
(Do not lose your Immigration Control Card! You will have to present it when you take your return flight)

Once the flight lands in either of the two Galapagos airports (Baltra Island or San Cristobal), you must pay the entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park, which is $30 USD for Ecuadorians, $100 USD for those from the Andean community and Mercosur, and $200 USD for foreigners. Minors pay half the value of the entrance fee.

It is NOT obligatory to complete the TCT Pre-Registration online to enter Galapagos because you can do it directly at the airport, but I recommend you to do it at this link (use the Firefox browser to enter the information), because it will save you time at the window with the attending officer. All you need to do is have your passport or identity card on hand, and the return flight ticket can be printed or digital. Another way to speed things up is by paying the $20 in cash; paying with a card takes much longer and the people behind you in line start to get really impatient!

Rabida Island and its famous volcanic red sand beach

Rabida Island and its famous red sand beach

4) GALAPAGOS AIRPORTS

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The San Cristobal airport is very close to the downtown area of San Cristobal Island. A taxi will take you to your hotel for only $2 USD and you’ll arrive in just 2 minutes.

In contrast, the airport of Baltra (by/on Santa Cruz Island) is actually on a nearby island to the north of Santa Cruz Island. As soon as you arrive at the airport in Baltra, you pay the entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park, grab your suitcase and outside you’ll find the “Lobitos” buses waiting to take you to the Baltra dock/port (current cost is USD 5 one way). From there, you must take a ferry that charges you USD 1 to cross to the Itabaca dock on Santa Cruz Island.

Once at the Santa Cruz dock, you’ll see buses for $5 USD or taxis for $30 USD (you can share the ride and split the price with up to 4 people), take you to Puerto Ayora where most of the accommodations are. Puerto Ayora is the central part of Sant Cruz Island.

Santa Cruz Island Hotels and Hostals

5) ENJOY THE GALAPAGOS WITHOUT COMPLAINTS

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Some of the main complaints that tourists make about the Galapagos are that they didn’t see the animals they liked, that the water was too murky for snorkeling and that everything is too expensive (to name a few!).

Please remember that the Galapagos is not a zoo where wild animals are caged for the public’s enjoyment, where you might be able to touch them, feed them or take a picture with a (likely sedated) animal.

Animals and fish in Galapagos ARE FREE and, if you are lucky, you will see them along the way, on a daily tour, or at a beach. RESPECT THEM, don’t chase them, don’t feed them, keep a distance of 2 meters between yourself and the animal, don’t take pictures using flash…in short, DON’T MESS WITH THEM.

If you have a good attitude and the right energy, Galapagos will show itself differently to each person.

RULES THAT YOU MUST RESPECT IN GALAPAGOS

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